Plain Language Summary: Fluffy, Cute, Yet Wicked: How Northern Iranians Feel About Feeding and Managing Free-Ranging Dogs and Cats.

By Danial Nayeri, Pourya Sardari, Fateme Zahra Raisi, Zahra Ghorbanian, and Jenny Anne Glikman.

Read the full paper here.

Domestic cats and dogs are ubiquitous. They are living as companions in human homes, but also living free-range on city streets where resources such as food, shelter, and mates are abundant. Free-ranging dogs and cats are common in Karaj, the fourth most populous city in northern Iran, posing various challenges such as health risks and harm to wildlife and people. For example, they attack, disturb and transmit diseases to both wildlife and people. Due to cultural and historical bonds with humans, deciding how to manage dogs and cats in cities is a tough problem because people disagree on what to do.

Our study looks at who feeds these animals, their attitudes toward feeding free-ranging dogs and cats, and what people think about killing them in different situations. We surveyed 500 residents of Karaj, and found that 63% of residents feed dogs, and 59% feed cats, mainly using food leftovers.  Compassion and religious beliefs drive their feeding. Indeed, those who held the religious Islam belief that dogs are Najis (ritually impure), were less likely to feed them and more likely to support lethal removal, particularly in severe situations like attacks on humans.

Most residents opposed lethal removal, deeming it ineffective, and favored non-lethal approaches like improved waste management and relocating animals to shelters. We, therefore, recommend improving waste management to reduce food sources for these animals and starting effective communication with pet-owners to reduce feeding free-ranging animals. Additionally, collaboration between municipalities, environmental departments, and veterinary services is essential for creating effective management strategies as shown in other studies. Moreover, we found that social norms and perceiving the act of feeding being common were influential in feeding free-ranging dogs and cats. Therefore, messaging and framing concepts can be used to change some of these behaviors.

Understanding public attitudes and cultural influences is crucial for developing humane and effective strategies to manage free-ranging dogs and cats in urban areas. Through collaboration, effective communication, and improved waste management, we can address the root causes of feeding behaviors and mitigate negative impacts on both human and wildlife populations.